Too Many Teenagers Harming Themselves Following Family Issues

An increasing number of children are harming themselves either with knives or drugs, a report released by a leading charity stated. The growing number of self-harmers has been blamed on the deepening family problems.

According to the ChildLine, there has been a two-third increase in the number of children and teenagers who have asked for help after considering hurting themselves with knives or drugs, Mail Online reports.

The charity blames the sudden increase of self-harm among teenagers on their family problems and says that these domestic problems have even overtaken sexual abuse as the most common problem among teenagers.

The NHS made public hospital admissions details reveals that number of children brought to hospitals for self-harm with knives has more than doubled (increased 132 percent) in a decade.

The charity adds that the age group of children looking for help over self-harm is also falling.

"Contacts about self-harm and suicide are a growing area of concern for us. It seems the pressures facing children and young people, particularly girls, are increasing at such a rate that some of them see drastic measures as the only answer to their problems. We know that boys are suffering, but they are less likely to seek help and we urge them to do so. The main reason young people contacted the charity was 'family relationships,'" charity chief Sue Minto was quoted sa saying by Mail Online.

The charity reveals that in a span of one year, the number of children approaching for self-harm rose by 68 percent. Several counseling sessions are conducted with teenagers by the ChildLine who worry they will harm themselves.

"There have been notable changes in the problems children contact us about since we launched in 1986. Originally sexual abuse was the main issue, but now the pendulum is swinging towards family problems, self-harm and suicide," the ChildLine said.

According to recent official figures, about 4 million children live in broken or step-families which are the most likely have conflicts.